LEADING AND MANAGING IN NURSING,
8TH EDITION BY PATRICIA S. YODER-WISE
COMPLETE CHAPTER QUESTIONS & VERIFIED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONELS
Questions 1-20: Foundational Concepts & Leadership Theories
1. A nurse manager of a 20-bed medical unit finds that 80% of the patients are older adults. She is asked
to assess and adapt the unit to better meet the unique needs of the older adult patient. Using
complexity principles, what would be the best approach to take for implementation of this change?
a) Leverage the hierarchical management position to get unit staff involved in assessment and planning.
b) Engage involved staff at all levels in the decision-making process.
c) Focus the assessment on the unit and omit the hospital and community environment.
d) Hire a geriatric specialist to oversee and control the project.
Correct Answer: b) Engage involved staff at all levels in the decision-making process.
Rationale: Complexity theory suggests that systems interact and adapt and that decision-making occurs
throughout the systems, as opposed to being held in a hierarchy. In complexity theory, every voice
counts, and therefore, all levels of staff would be involved in decision-making .
2. A unit manager receives a call from a nurse who has called in sick five times in the past month. He
tells the manager that he must often care for his wife, who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer.
According to Maslow's need hierarchy theory, what is the best approach to satisfying the needs of this
nurse, other staff, and patients?
a) Line up agency nurses who can be called in to work on short notice.
b) Place the nurse on unpaid leave for the remainder of his wife's treatment.
c) Sympathize with the nurse's dilemma and let the charge nurse know that this nurse may be calling in
frequently.
d) Work with the nurse, staffing office, and other nurses to arrange his scheduled days off around his
wife's treatments.
Correct Answer: d) Work with the nurse, staffing office, and other nurses to arrange his
scheduled days off around his wife's treatments.
,Rationale: Placing the nurse on unpaid leave may threaten the nurse's capacity to meet physiologic
needs and demotivate the nurse. Arranging the schedule meets the needs of the staff and of patients
while satisfying the nurse's need for affiliation (love/belonging) .
3. As the RN charge nurse on the night shift, you find that staff are not motivated to go beyond their job
descriptions. Which strategy might motivate the staff and lead to greater job satisfaction, according to
Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory?
a) Ask the director to offer higher wages and bonuses for extra work.
b) Allow the LPNs and NAs greater decision-making power within the scope of their positions.
c) Hire additional staff so that individual workloads are lessened.
d) Ask the director to increase job security by having staff sign contracts.
Correct Answer: b) Allow the LPNs and NAs greater decision-making power within the scope of
their positions.
Rationale: Hygiene factors (salary, working conditions, security) avoid job dissatisfaction. Motivator
factors (recognition, responsibility, satisfaction with work) promote a satisfying and enriched work
environment. Granting decision-making power is a motivator .
4. The nurse manager wants to increase motivation by providing motivating factors. Which action would
be appropriate?
a) Develop on-site daycare services.
b) Provide a hierarchical organizational structure.
c) Implement a model of shared governance.
d) Promote the development of a flexible benefits package.
Correct Answer: c) Implement a model of shared governance.
Rationale: Complexity theory suggests that decision-making occurs throughout systems, which is the
foundation of shared governance. This empowers staff, providing motivators like responsibility and
recognition .
5. A grievance brought by a staff nurse against the unit manager requires mediation. At the first session,
the staff nurse calls the manager's actions unfair, and the manager reiterates her reasons. What is the
best course of action?
a) Send the two disputants away to reach their own resolution.
b) Involve another staff nurse for clarity.
c) Ask each party to examine their own motives and issues in the conflict.
d) Continue to listen as the parties repeat their thoughts.
Correct Answer: c) Ask each party to examine their own motives and issues in the conflict.
Rationale: The first step to restoring unity is to address the interests and involvement of participants by
examining the real issues of all parties, rather than focusing on positions .
, 6. The manager of a surgical area has a vision to add unlicensed assistive personnel. The RN staff, used
to primary nursing, are resistant. What is the best initial strategy?
a) Exploring the values and feelings of the RN group in relationship to this change.
b) Leaving the RNs alone so they can think about the change.
c) Dropping the idea for a year or so.
d) Hiring the assistants and letting the RNs see they are good additions.
Correct Answer: a) Exploring the values and feelings of the RN group in relationship to this
change.
Rationale: Influencing others requires emotional intelligence. Motivating others recognizes that values
are powerful forces that influence acceptance of change. Empathy and discussion are needed before
implementation .
7. You encourage all staff members to see themselves as having a role in decision-making. You see your
role as involving responsibilities but not as a hierarchical role. This view is consistent with:
a) Trait theories.
b) Complexity theory.
c) Situated theory.
d) Emotional intelligence.
Correct Answer: b) Complexity theory.
Rationale: Complexity theory views organizations as dynamic, adaptive systems where decision-making
is distributed and relationships are key, rather than relying solely on hierarchical authority .
8. You are responsible for teaching ostomy patients. A patient is 2 days post-op and rates his pain an
8/10. When you approach him, he turns away. What is the most appropriate approach incorporating
Maslow's theory?
a) Let him rest today and see if he feels better tomorrow.
b) Intervene to improve his pain management and return later to assess readiness to learn.
c) Talk to the social worker about arranging home healthcare.
d) Gently inform him of the importance of participating in teaching today.
Correct Answer: b) Intervene to improve his pain management and return later to assess
readiness to learn.
Rationale: Maslow's hierarchy suggests that basic physiological needs (pain relief) must be met before
higher-level needs (learning/self-actualization) can be addressed .
9. A newly graduated RN tells you that leadership belongs to the unit manager, not to her. Your
response demonstrates understanding that the new graduate:
a) Is correct. Leadership is not the role of the staff nurse.
b) Would benefit from further understanding of her role as a professional whose influence affects
decision-making.
8TH EDITION BY PATRICIA S. YODER-WISE
COMPLETE CHAPTER QUESTIONS & VERIFIED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONELS
Questions 1-20: Foundational Concepts & Leadership Theories
1. A nurse manager of a 20-bed medical unit finds that 80% of the patients are older adults. She is asked
to assess and adapt the unit to better meet the unique needs of the older adult patient. Using
complexity principles, what would be the best approach to take for implementation of this change?
a) Leverage the hierarchical management position to get unit staff involved in assessment and planning.
b) Engage involved staff at all levels in the decision-making process.
c) Focus the assessment on the unit and omit the hospital and community environment.
d) Hire a geriatric specialist to oversee and control the project.
Correct Answer: b) Engage involved staff at all levels in the decision-making process.
Rationale: Complexity theory suggests that systems interact and adapt and that decision-making occurs
throughout the systems, as opposed to being held in a hierarchy. In complexity theory, every voice
counts, and therefore, all levels of staff would be involved in decision-making .
2. A unit manager receives a call from a nurse who has called in sick five times in the past month. He
tells the manager that he must often care for his wife, who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer.
According to Maslow's need hierarchy theory, what is the best approach to satisfying the needs of this
nurse, other staff, and patients?
a) Line up agency nurses who can be called in to work on short notice.
b) Place the nurse on unpaid leave for the remainder of his wife's treatment.
c) Sympathize with the nurse's dilemma and let the charge nurse know that this nurse may be calling in
frequently.
d) Work with the nurse, staffing office, and other nurses to arrange his scheduled days off around his
wife's treatments.
Correct Answer: d) Work with the nurse, staffing office, and other nurses to arrange his
scheduled days off around his wife's treatments.
,Rationale: Placing the nurse on unpaid leave may threaten the nurse's capacity to meet physiologic
needs and demotivate the nurse. Arranging the schedule meets the needs of the staff and of patients
while satisfying the nurse's need for affiliation (love/belonging) .
3. As the RN charge nurse on the night shift, you find that staff are not motivated to go beyond their job
descriptions. Which strategy might motivate the staff and lead to greater job satisfaction, according to
Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory?
a) Ask the director to offer higher wages and bonuses for extra work.
b) Allow the LPNs and NAs greater decision-making power within the scope of their positions.
c) Hire additional staff so that individual workloads are lessened.
d) Ask the director to increase job security by having staff sign contracts.
Correct Answer: b) Allow the LPNs and NAs greater decision-making power within the scope of
their positions.
Rationale: Hygiene factors (salary, working conditions, security) avoid job dissatisfaction. Motivator
factors (recognition, responsibility, satisfaction with work) promote a satisfying and enriched work
environment. Granting decision-making power is a motivator .
4. The nurse manager wants to increase motivation by providing motivating factors. Which action would
be appropriate?
a) Develop on-site daycare services.
b) Provide a hierarchical organizational structure.
c) Implement a model of shared governance.
d) Promote the development of a flexible benefits package.
Correct Answer: c) Implement a model of shared governance.
Rationale: Complexity theory suggests that decision-making occurs throughout systems, which is the
foundation of shared governance. This empowers staff, providing motivators like responsibility and
recognition .
5. A grievance brought by a staff nurse against the unit manager requires mediation. At the first session,
the staff nurse calls the manager's actions unfair, and the manager reiterates her reasons. What is the
best course of action?
a) Send the two disputants away to reach their own resolution.
b) Involve another staff nurse for clarity.
c) Ask each party to examine their own motives and issues in the conflict.
d) Continue to listen as the parties repeat their thoughts.
Correct Answer: c) Ask each party to examine their own motives and issues in the conflict.
Rationale: The first step to restoring unity is to address the interests and involvement of participants by
examining the real issues of all parties, rather than focusing on positions .
, 6. The manager of a surgical area has a vision to add unlicensed assistive personnel. The RN staff, used
to primary nursing, are resistant. What is the best initial strategy?
a) Exploring the values and feelings of the RN group in relationship to this change.
b) Leaving the RNs alone so they can think about the change.
c) Dropping the idea for a year or so.
d) Hiring the assistants and letting the RNs see they are good additions.
Correct Answer: a) Exploring the values and feelings of the RN group in relationship to this
change.
Rationale: Influencing others requires emotional intelligence. Motivating others recognizes that values
are powerful forces that influence acceptance of change. Empathy and discussion are needed before
implementation .
7. You encourage all staff members to see themselves as having a role in decision-making. You see your
role as involving responsibilities but not as a hierarchical role. This view is consistent with:
a) Trait theories.
b) Complexity theory.
c) Situated theory.
d) Emotional intelligence.
Correct Answer: b) Complexity theory.
Rationale: Complexity theory views organizations as dynamic, adaptive systems where decision-making
is distributed and relationships are key, rather than relying solely on hierarchical authority .
8. You are responsible for teaching ostomy patients. A patient is 2 days post-op and rates his pain an
8/10. When you approach him, he turns away. What is the most appropriate approach incorporating
Maslow's theory?
a) Let him rest today and see if he feels better tomorrow.
b) Intervene to improve his pain management and return later to assess readiness to learn.
c) Talk to the social worker about arranging home healthcare.
d) Gently inform him of the importance of participating in teaching today.
Correct Answer: b) Intervene to improve his pain management and return later to assess
readiness to learn.
Rationale: Maslow's hierarchy suggests that basic physiological needs (pain relief) must be met before
higher-level needs (learning/self-actualization) can be addressed .
9. A newly graduated RN tells you that leadership belongs to the unit manager, not to her. Your
response demonstrates understanding that the new graduate:
a) Is correct. Leadership is not the role of the staff nurse.
b) Would benefit from further understanding of her role as a professional whose influence affects
decision-making.
